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2002 Mercedes Benz E Class

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

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Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

Limited mileage data: 6 of 8 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Electrical System. Review the 3 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Visibility. Review the 2 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Child Seat. Review the 1 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

0 crash reports0 fire reports0 injury reports

Electrical System complaints

3 reports
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102,000 miles · Apr 29, 2014
Electrical System

I REITERATE ....THIS VEHICLE IS A DEATH TRAP! MERCEDES BENZ INSTALLED POWER SEAT CONTROLLERS IN THIS CAR THAT FAIL VERY FREQUENTLY. THIS DESIGN FLAW CAUSES THE UNIT TO RUN POWER SEAT COMPONENTS CONSTANTLY EVEN WHEN THE CAR IS PARKED, KEY REMOVED AND THE CAR IS LOCKED. WITHIN 2-11 HOURS, THE ACTIVITY OF THIS FAULT SEAT CONTROLL…

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I REITERATE ....THIS VEHICLE IS A DEATH TRAP! MERCEDES BENZ INSTALLED POWER SEAT CONTROLLERS IN THIS CAR THAT FAIL VERY FREQUENTLY. THIS DESIGN FLAW CAUSES THE UNIT TO RUN POWER SEAT COMPONENTS CONSTANTLY EVEN WHEN THE CAR IS PARKED, KEY REMOVED AND THE CAR IS LOCKED. WITHIN 2-11 HOURS, THE ACTIVITY OF THIS FAULT SEAT CONTROLLER UNIT DRAINS THE CAR BATTERY! WHEN YOU TRY TO JUMP START THE CAR AS PER MERCEDES BENZ OWNERS MANUAL INSTRUCTIONS, THE PROCESS CAUSES THE REAR LEFT SAM (SIGNAL ACQUISITION AND ACTUATOR MODULE DRIVER SIDE) TO LOSE PARTIAL OR FULL MEMORY. THIS AFFECTS A WHOLE HOST OF SYSTEMS INCLUDING FUEL DELIVERY, TAIL & HEAD LIGHTS. ITEMS THAT ARE ESSENTIAL TO OPERATING A VEHICLE ON THE PUBLIC ROADS SAFELY! THE OTHER DAY, APRIL 25TH, 2014, THE FUEL DELIVERY ON MY 2002 MB C32 AMG FAILED SUDDENLY WHILE I WAS ON THE HIGHWAY! THE LOSS OF POWER WAS SO SUDDEN THAT I HAD TO SWERVE OFF THE ROAD AND ONTO THE SHOULDER; HITTING MY HEAD ON THE DRIVERS SIDE WINDOW IN THE PROCESS! HAVING RESEARCHED THIS EXTENSIVELY AND HAVE FOUND THAT THESE ARE KNOWN PROBLEMS SINCE THE INTRODUCTION OF THE CAR IN 2002. INSTEAD OF A VOLUNTARY RECALL, MERCEDES BENZ DID A PATCH JOB OF REPLACING FAULTY SAMS FOR OWNERS STILL UNDER WARRANTY, AND ONLY IN CASES WHERE THE OWNERS COMPLAINED OR HAD THREE OR MORE VISITS TO A MERCEDES BENZ DEALER SERVICE DEPARTMENT. UPDATED 05/05/14 UPDATED 10/27/2014 *JS

NHTSA ODI #10585495

Mileage unknown · Jun 25, 2009
Electrical System

THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER LIGHTING IS DIMMING TO THE POINT YOU HAVE TO SQUINT TO SEE THE INFORMATION. THIS REQUIRES FOCUSING ON THE DISPLAY FOR LONGER THAN A SAFE AMOUNT OF TIME ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU ARE DRIVING. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10275001

Mileage unknown · Jan 28, 2008
Electrical System

INSTRUMENT CLUSTER LIGHTING FADED TO POINT OF BARELY BEING ABLE TO SEE PIXELS IN DISPLAY.NO TEMPERATURE READING-NO CLOCK READING AND SPEEDOMETER IS BARELY READABLE.MANUFACTURER ACKNOWLEDGED FAULT ON OTHER MERCEDES MODELS BUT NOT THE E-CLASS.DON'T DRIVE CAR MUCH AT NIGHT BECAUSE OF BARELY READABLE DISPLAY. *CN

NHTSA ODI #10216242

Official recalls

0

No recalls in this snapshot.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.